Pipe coupling



Aug. 13, 1935,. Q E, BLAGG Er AL v 2,011,433

PIPE COUPLING Filed March 25, 193:5

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS. Garz'ezi Z'. Zdgy,

A TTORNEYS.

Aug.13,1935.` GEBLAGG EAL, 2,011,433

PIPE COUPLING Filed March 25, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 v l INVENTORS. Q. @md fff ff A TTORNEY.

` proved Patented Aug. 13, 1935 PATENT OFFICE v Pira coUPLmG Application Mai-c1125, 193s, serial No. ,662.752,

1 claim. (c1. ass-71) This invention relates to couplings for pipes or tubesl and it has particular relation to an imtype of coupling for use in connection with thin walled tubing.

Objectsv of the invention include the provision of a simple and efficient coupling for thin wall tubing; to provide such a coupling in which no substantial preliminary operation on the pipe is necessary before making the coupling; to pro-l vide such a coupling in which a perfectly tight joint is effected without the use of packing; to provide such a coupling in which the flow of fluid is not materially restricted; and to provide a coupling particularly adaptable for use in connection with tubes made of such types of alloy metals as are liable to change their structure and/or properties by working, and which will obvlate working of the metal of the tube to such an extent'as to eiiect any material change in the structure and/or properties thereof; to provide a coupling particularly adaptable for use in connection with tubing employed in the transfer of relatively corrosive fluids, and to provide a coupling particularly adaptable for use inconnection with thin wall tubes formed from metal containing a material percentage of chromium andnickel as an alloy thereof.

Other objects include the provision of a tube coupling comprising an inner guiding and expension sleeve receivable in part within the end of a tube, and a cooperating clamping member; the provision of a tube coupling including an inner sleeve member having a cylindrical end portion of substantially the same outside diameter as the normal inside diameter of the tube to be coupled thereby, the sleeve further having a frusto-conical surface joining vsaid cylindrical end portion and adapted to be. at least partially forced into the end of the tube whereby to cause said end to be expanded, and a clamping ring having a'frusto-conical. surface complementaryto the frusto-conical surface of the sleeve for clamping the expanded end of the tube between it and the sleeve; the provision of a tube coupling including a. sleeve adapted to be received in part in the end of a. pipe to be coupled and an exterior clamping ring adapted to clamp the end of the tube to the sleeve, the inner surface of the sleeve being shaped to approximately Venturil shape; the provision of a tube' coupling including a sleeve adapted to be received in part in the end of a pipe to be coupled and an exterior clamping ring adapted to clamp the end of the -tube to the sleeve, the inner surface of the sleevey being Shaped to approximately Venturi shape; the provision of a tube coupling including a sleeve having a cylindrical end portion of an outside diameter`A substantially the same as the inside diameter of they tube to be coupled and having a frusto-conical surface vbounding said cylindrical portion, the cylindrical portion adapted to serv'e as a guide for the sleeve in the tube and the frusta-conical surface adapted to flare the end of the pipe thereon when forced thereinto, and a clamping ring encircling the tube and sleeve and having surfaces complementary to said cylindrical portion and said frusta-conical portion.

Further objects include the provision of new and novel means for coupling the end of a thin walled tube to a cast metal object; to provide a novel form of connection between a cast metal object and a thin walled tube; and to provide a novel form of coupling between a thin walled tube and an object such as a valve body or other part conventionally employed in lines of piping.

The above being among the objects of the present invention. the sameA consists in certain novel features of construction and combinations of parts to be hereinafter described with reference to the accompanying drawings, and then claimed, having the above and other objects in view.

In the accompanying drawings which illustrate suitable embodiments of the present invention, and in which like numerals refer to like parts throughout the several different views,

Fig. 1 is a sectional view taken longitudinally through the axis of a form of pipe or tube coupling and cooperating tube sections constructed in accordancev with the present invention.

Fig. 2 vis a. sectional view taken through the axis of two parts of the coupling indicated in Fig. 1 and corresponding tube section', ilustrat- .ing the preferred method` followed in assembly thereof.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1 but illustrating a slight modication.

Fig. 4.is a view similar to Fig. 1 but illustrating. another modified form of construction.

Fig. 5 is an end view of the' construction shown in Fig. 4.

Figs. 6 and 7 are views corresponding to Figs. 4 and 5 and illustrating a still further modication of the invention.

Fig. 8 is a partially broken partially sectioned view taken axially through a coupling between a thin walled-tube and avalve or other body.I

0f Fig. 8.

` Fig. 10 is a perspective view of one of the sections of the clamping collar shown mounted onV the valve body in Figs. 8 and 9.

Couplings for pipes or tubes employed for conveying corrosive fluid presents special problems not ordinarily met in connection with pipes or tubes used for other purposes. An example of such special use of pipes for the transfer of highly corrosive fluids is met with in connection with the transfer of sulphite liquors in the paper industry and, accordingly, such use will be referred to herein as indicative of the use of pipes for other highly corrosive fluids and, accordingly it will be understood that the use of the present invention is not limited solely to its .use for conveying sulphite liquors.

InI the manufacture of paper by the sulphite process it is necessary to convey sulphite liquors to and from the digesters and other necessary apparatus by means of pipes or tubes, and also heat the material including the sulphite liquors in the l digesters by circulating steam through' coils of nary thickness. In using thin wall tubing, however, the use of threaded couplings is obviated for the reason that if threads were formed on the end of the thin wall tubing there would not be sufficient stock left between the base of the threads and the inner wall of the tubing to withstand the work required, particularly to withstand it for any length of time in view of the corrosion of the tube that is bound to occur, and if a pipe of usual thickness is employed in order to provide suficient stock under the groove of the thread then the body of the pipe is thicker than is necessary and a waste of metal results which unnecessarily increases the resultant cost. Furthermore, where the tubes are used to circulate steam through the digesters, the thin walled tubing is much more eiiicient than thick walled tubing in transferring the heat from the steamto the liquors in the digesters, this being particularly true in view of the fact that alloys of the type referred to are essentiallyv poor conductors of heat. Accordingly, the common practice heretofore has been where two tubes'are to be coupled together, to radially outwardly flare the adjacent ends of the tubing to provide complementary flanges. Clamping rings, encircling the tubes are drawn together by bolts and nuts for clamping the flanges together either with or without the interposition of suitable packing, to effect the coupling. Such a joint will usually effect a satisfactorily tight coupling but, in view of the fact that the tubes are usually of as great a length as is possible, the flanges must be formed cold and 'subsequent heat treating thereof is practically imfluids than when in their soft and annealed condition. Furthermore, in conventional constructions of the type mentioned it will be understood that the tubes are not interiorly supported at the point of junction, which makes them subject to vibrations set up in the line piping of which they form a part, at the point of junction of the flanges and the main body portion of the tubing, and such vibrations exerted over` such a limited area has the tendency of further work hardening the metal of the tube along this area and accordingly fosters a relatively rapid breakdown of the structure of the metal at this point. vIt is these undesirable features in connection with conventional types Aof couplings for tubing of the type described that the present invention is designed to overcome.

` Referring now to Fig. l, a coupling is shown constructed in accordance with the present invention joining the adjacent ends of two thin formed of the1S-8 metal previously referred to,

or other metal having similar corrosion resisting tendencies, although it is to be understood that the present invention is not limited, in its broader aspects at least, to the particular metal employed in the tubes.` Received in the adjacent ends of each of the tubes 40 and 42 is' the corresponding end of an inner sleeve 44 preferably formed from a corrosive resistant metal or alloy which may be,

- for instance, of the same composition as the tubes themselves. This sleeve, as best indicated in Fig.

2, at each end is externally provided with a cylindrical outer surface 46. and each surface 45 is v bounded at its inner axial end with an axially inwardly and radially outwardly tapering frustoconical surface 41. The generatrices of the surfaces 41 are preferably disposed at an angle of between 5 degrees and 15 degrees to the axis of the sleeves 44, and preferably at an angle of l0 degrees as shown, although the construction will Work satisfactorily up to angles of 45 degrees.y

The surfaces 46 merge at their inne'r ends. into a central portion 48 which may be cylindrical in shape as indicated or any other desired configuration as, for example, those indicated in connection with the modifications to be described later.

It may be noted that in the type of tubes 49 and 42 employed for the purposes heretofore described, the inner and outer dimensions of the tubes are held to relatively close limits and both their inner and outer Asurfaces are brought to a relatively smooth and polished condition in manufacture. Accordingly, it is possible to make the cylindrical end portions 46 conform closelyk in outside diameter to the interior diameter of the tubes. lAs indicated in Fig. 1 the cylindrical end portions 46 are received within the corresponding ends of the corresponding tubes 49 and 42 and such ends are outwardly flared into complementary relationship With respect to the surfaces 46 and are received on such surfaces over the greater portion of the length thereof.

Surrounding each tube 40 'and 42 isi collar member 50 which may be formed of a corrosive resisting metal or alloy, particularly where the joint is employed in heatingv coils within a digester. Each collar member 50 ls provided with a -cylindrical inner end surface 52 which-relatively closely ts the outer diameter of the corresponding tube and a frusto-cenical inner surface 54 which merges at one end with the surface 52 and is disposed at the same angle with respect to the surface 52 as the surface 41 with respect tothe 'surface 45 previously described. The surface 54,

the corresponding tube. Each oi thecollars Il is provided at its outer end with aradially outwardly extending Vflange I4, and the flanges 54 are eachl provided with a seriesof circularly arranged opposed 'openings 54 through-which bolts 6l project. Nuts $2 threaded on the bolts' 60 serve with the bolts todraw the flanges 5I toward eachother,

.. thereby clamping the flared ends [of the tubes v40 and 42 securely between the frusto-conical surf faces 41 and 54' ofthe sleeve'and collars respec-ll v tively. Obviously, where'the nuts 42 V'and-bolts' 60 are exposed to the 'eifectsof corrosive fluids. 'they are preferably formed from corrosion resisting material. Because .ofthe-factthat the inner and outer surfaces of the tubes. 4B and, 42

are smooth and polished, and because of the lfact-v that the surfaces 4'1 and 54 of-'the sleeve-and collars are brought to-a .like condition ofiinish,l

and because of the relatively small .angle of the surfaces 41 and with respect to the axes of ,the

effect to be applied to the' flared ends of the tubes,A

vent possible leakage at the Joint.

no packing is either' necessary or desirable to pre- In joining a pair of tubesby the mechanismdescribed the steps indicated in Fig. 2 are followed.

`A collar 50 is first worked over the end of the tube, preferably to approximately the position it will assume with respect to the tube in the completed joint, and one end of the sleeve 44is introduced into the .corresponding end of the tube. Because of the fact that the inner cylindrical surface 52 of the collar 50 relatively closely. receives the normal diameter of the .tube 42 therein, thel surface 52 will act as a guide for the sleeve 50 so that it will be properly located on the tube without danger of cooking, and because ofv the fact that cylindrical end surface 56 of the sleeve 44 relatively closely flts the normal inner diameter of the tube 42, the surface 56 will act as a guide for the sleeve 44 and the sleeve 44 will be ac curately located axially of the tube 42 without danger of c'ocking. The sleeve 44 after the parts are in the position indicated in Fig. 2is then forced further into the tube until the cylindrical surface 46 of the corresponding endoi' the sleeve is received within the cylindrical surface 52 of the collar 50, and the outer end portion of the. tube 42 will, accordingly, be outwardly flared into complementary relationshipwith respect to the frusto conical surfaces 41 and 54 respectively. It'

will be observed that while the sleeve 44 is being forced into the tube to spread the end of the tube over the frusta-conical surface", the cylindrical guiding surfaces 46 and 52 are in more-or-less telescoping relation and, through the medium of the tube between them act to maintain each other in proper relative position to eachother and to the tube, thus insuring against any possible misalignment or cocking. The mating collar 50 is then worked onto the corresponding end ofthe other tube and the tube is forced up on the remaining end ofthe sleeve 44 in substantially the same manner as indicated in Fig. 2, after which the bolts 60 are inserted and, with the cooperating `0f the uid Within the tube it Wliltl not be jacent ends of thecoupled vtubes are securely reinforced both internally and externally by the coupling members so that possibility of the tubes becoming work hardened/due to vibration at the Joint is materiallyilessen'ed. Furthermore,

because of thefact that vthesleeve 44 is preferably formed from the lsamematerial as the.

tubes 40 and 42, or 4eggluivalentcorrosion resisting material',` the lointjm'embers are bound to withstand the corrosive action of the vfluid at .least equally as well as. the tubes 40 and 42.v e

lWhilethe sleeve 44 is made of ample thickness to withstand any stresses" to which it is liable to be subjected to in service, it will b'ejobserved.

fthat' it is not ci*V suchvthicknesses materially restricts .thesilow of fluid through it, and any suchl tendency towards rrestriction is fniiniinized by outwardlyfla'ring its inner wallsadjacent 1 the tubes which permits an 'unusually great' clamping;

"endsthereof as at 64 and rounding oi the ex-v treme edge portions ofl the ared parts so asto causethe bore yof the sleeve tov assume a somewhat Venturi-like shape-which-thereby further -aids in reducing theveffect of anyrestriction the sleeve 44 might otherwise oer.

This interior shaping off the' sleeve to Venturilike formation maybecarried to a greater extent as indicated in Fig. 3 in which all of the Y parts shown are identical to those in Fig. l with the exception of the sleeve, and accordingly equivalent parts and surfaces in Fig. 3 are in-vdicated by the same numerals as in Fig. 1 with the exceptionv that thenumerals in Fig. 3 bear the submark a. It will be noted that the sleeve 44a is identical to the sleeve 44 except for the change in shape of the inner surface 66 which is shown as being shaped to provide a substan' tially true venturi. In such a Joint it would of course be important to assemble the sleeve 44a with respect to the tubes a and 42a,that lthe throat of theventuri be located at'that end of these figures parts of the parts and surfaces corresponding 'with equivalent paris and surfaces of Fig. 1 areindicatedby the same numerals ex' cept that they bear the submark b. In this construction the-parts are substantially the same vas in Fig. i' with the exception that the central portion 48 of the sleeve 44 in Fig. 1 is in this case lengthened axially and increased in radial dimension as at 48h and is peripherally threaded. 'I'he collars 50h, instead of having flanges 56 as in Fig. 1, are provided with enlarged internally threaded ends b which are octagonally or otherwise peripherally shaped for the purpose -of enabling them to properly receive. a wrench.

The clamping effect in this case isof course obtained by threading the collars Villb upon the portion 44h of the inner sleeve until the flared ends of the tubes are held in proper clamped relation between the sleeve 44h and the collars illb.

The modincation shown in Figs. 6 and 7, in` which like Darts and surfaces are indicated by like numerals bearing the submarl: c. is essentially like that illustrated inFlgs'. 4 and 5 with the exception that the4 sleeve 44e is substantially identical to the-sleeve 44 employed in Fig. i 4

and one of the rings 5lc,'instead of being Cprovided with a flange, is peripherally threaded as at 10, while the other sleeve c is formed to. provide a shoulder 12. A nut member 14,

provided with a shoulder complementary to the shoulder '|2, threadably engages lthe threaded end 10 and by this means causes the collars 50c to be drawn together to properlyv clamp the flared ends of the tubes 40c and '42C against the sleeve Mc.

A further problem arises in connection with the type of tubing herein underconsideratin in joining it tothe various ttings or parts neces-l sarily employed in connection with lines of pip ing and which includes, for instance, valves, `Ts, Ls, tank ttings and the like. In valves, for instance, which may be considered as an example of other fittings or parts, the conventional practice has been to provide a relatively heavy flange on the end of the valve body and either thread the end of the tube into it, weld the tube lto it, but generally to outwardly flare the end of tube in substantially the same manner as previously described in connection with conventional types of tube iifings, back the flange up with a ring and clamp the iiange on the tube between the Iiange on the valve body and ring by means of bolts and nuts, usually with the addition of a gasket between the iianges. Not only is this construction subject to the same disadvantages discussed in connection with conventional types of tube fittings due to the work hardening of the end of the tube in outwardly iianging it to the degree sindicated, but further difficulties kare met with in connection with the valve body itself. These valve bodies or corresponding parts are cast from a corrosion resisting metal or alloy, usually of the same composition as the tube, and the ange thereon is necessarily made relatively large and heavy. This not only adds a relatively large amount of expensive material to the construction, but more important it is a common occurrence to nd that cracks have developed at the point of connection between the valve body and its flange due to the contraction of the cast metal in the heavy flange in cooling and pulling away from the connected thin section. Even though such cracks do not appear on the surface, the metal at this point is liable to be rather Weak and spongy and less resistant to the attack of the corrosive fluid than the other areas of the part.

In accordance with the present invention these disadvantages are obviated in the manner shown in Figs. 8 to 10 inclusive in which the valve body |00, instead of being provided with an integral ange as in conventional constructions, is provided with a tubular extension |02 which is substantially equivalent to one-half of the sleeve M in Fig. 1 except that the central portion 48d is slightly enlarged and the valve body thereof is formed to provide a relatively small radial shoulder |04. The amount of metal required to form the sleeve portion |02 and central portion 48d is relatively small and accordingly no diiculty such as the formation of cracks between the valve body and flange in conventional constructions is encountered.

In this construction the end of the tube |06' which is connected to the body |00 is clampedon the end of the sleeve |02 by a collar 50d drawn into place by bolts 60d and nuts 62d extending through the ange d of the collar 50d and a. ring indicated generally as at |00 bearing against the shoulder |04. This ring may be made up of a plurality of identical sections, the particular embodiment shown by way of illustration having three sections ||0, one ofwhich is shown in per-` spective view in Fig. 10. Each section ||0 is semi-annular in shape and is preferably'cut away as at ||2 for half its thickness and one-third its length at one sidel and at one end, and similarly cut away as at ||4 on the opposite side of the other end; The sections ||0 are assembled around the end of the valve body |00 against the shoulder |04 so that the end ||2 of one section overlaps the end |I4 of the next adjacent section, thereby effecting a continuous ring of equal thickness throughout. The bolts d extend through matching openings ||6 in the overlapping end portions of the sections ||0 and thereby maintain the sections in properly assembled relationship. In view of the fact that sections I0 may be made of any ordinary metal, it will be apparent that with this construction not only is the liability of cracks and aws in the valve body eliminated, but a less expensive construction is provided.

Formal changes'may be made in the speciiic embodiment of the invention described without departing from the spirit or substance of the broad invention, the scope of which is commensurate with the appended claim.

Coupling means for thin walled corrosion resisting steel tubes comprising an inner sleeve member having a cylindrical outer surface of a diameter to be relatively closely received in the normal bore of the tube to be coupled thereby to serve as a guide forsaid tube, a frusta-conical surface on said sleeve member concentric with Y the axis o1' said sleeve and directly merging at its smaller end with said cylindrical surfaceV and adapted to be at least partially and closely received within a correspondingly shaped end of said tube, an external collar surrounding said tube and having an inner cylindrical surface forming a guide for said collar on the normal diameter of said tube and a frusto-conical inner surface complementary vto the outer surface of the end of said tube, the cylindrical and frusta-conical surfacesrespectively on said inner sleeve and external collar being co-extensive and truly parallel when the coupling is assembled on a tube, and means for moving said collar axially of said sleeve to clamp the end kof a tube therebetween. Y 

